Typewriter desk



2,066,60&

Jan. 5, 1937.

J. H. BUSHNELL TYPEWRITER DESK Filed July 13. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 o 3 o o a W. mm 1. r j 1 1 x 1937- J. H. BUSHNELL. 2,066,8

TYPEWRITER DESK Filed July 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Patented Jan. 5, 1937 PATENT. OFFICE TYPEWRITER. DESK John H. Bushnell, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Wagemaker Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 13, 1935, Serial No. 31,152

. Claims.

This invention relates to typewriter desks. It is a primary objectand purpose of the present invention to provide a construction of typewriter desk, whereby the typewriter may be housed com- 5 pletely within one of the ordinary pedestals of a desk without increasing the width of the pedestal or the length of the desk, and to also provide equipment for holding the usual stationary supplies which are required for typewriter operation, avoiding the necessity of using one or more of the drawers in the remaining pedestal of the desk for such purpose.

Heretofore it has been usual in mounting typewriters in one of the pedestals of the desk to require a wider pedestal and a necessary increase in length of the desk in order to house the typewriter, so that the usual typewriter desk of this character is sixty inches in length. In my invention there is a decrease of ten percent in the length of the typewriter desk and a corresponding decrease in the ofllce space required for the pedestal type of typewriter desk. It is a further objectof the invention to provide a very simple yet particularly eifective mounting for the typewriter such that it may be very easily raised to working position or lowered to a position for return within the pedestal. This results in economy of manufacture and also in ease in raising and lowering the typewriter. These and many other stated, will appear as an understanding of the invention is had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the typewriter. desk made in accordance with my invention, i1- lustrating the typewriter in the position of use.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the desk pedestal which carries the typewriter and with the drawer which immediately carries the typewriter shown in elevation and partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the drawer which carries objects and purposes, not at this time specifically the typewriter, the adjacent portions of the desk Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The desk is of the ordinary flat top type, having one pedestal l of conventional structure adapted to receive and house sliding drawers 2 located 5 one above the other. There is also a middle drawer 3 above the well of the desk all covered by a flat top 4 which extends over and covers the companion pedestal 5 in which the typewriter is housed when not in use. The frame of the typewriter pedestal is the same as the pedestal l consisting of the four corner posts, inner and outer side panels anda back panel and open at the front, and the usual desk slide may be provided with the typewriter pedestal as well as with the pedestal at the opposite side of the desk.

The typewriter is carried in a sliding structure similar to a drawer and which has an outer face 6 which preferably will be made to simulate the appearance of a plurality of drawers located one over the other, as shown. The drawer is completed by a vertical side i, a back 8 and a second vertical side 9 which extends from the end of the back 8 forwardly a relatively short distance, leaving an open space between its free vertical edge and the face member ii. A bottom H] is secured therein which, at the edge thereof nearest the well of the desk, is cut away to avoid contact with the operator of the typewriter when it is used. Between the short side 9 and the opposite side 'i a plurality of inclined shelves ll, located one over the other in spaced apart relation, are provided, these defining pockets in which the stationery supplies may be placed.

This drawer structure is slidable back and forth into and out of the pedestal 5. Pairs of drawer guides l2 in the shape of rectangular wooden bars are attached to the inner sides of the pedestal 5 between the posts and are inclined downwardly slightly from their front to their rear 40 ends. Cooperating slidable guide members it in the form of 'wooden bars are secured to the outer sides of the parts i and 9, entering between the bars,of each pair of guide bars l2 so that the drawer may be readily withdrawn or pushed back into the pedestal. The position of the cooperating slide or guide bars is a matter of choice and the positions shown in the drawings are not in any sense the only ones which the slides may occupy, though in the building of the typewriter desk the positions shown' are substantially those which have heretofore been used. The vertical side I and the front face 6, besides being firmly connected together at the front vertical edge of the side I, have such connection reinforced by two spaced apart horizontal bars I4 as shown each of which is narrowed as indicated at I5 toward the open side of the drawer. This reinforces and strengthens the structure and also upon the widened portions of the bars there may be placed trays for ofiice supplies such as are used, or ink wells may be mounted therein, particularly in the upper member, or they may be used for any other convenient purpose.

The typewriter is mounted upon a. table I6 which is rectangular in form. Adjacent one edge a horizontal bar I! is permanently secured to the underside of the table. This bar has a hinged connection, by means of hinges I8, with the upper edge portion of the complete side I of the drawer, the hinges being connected as best shown in Fig. 4. The free edge portion of the table I6 opposite that connected to the side 'I has a dado I 9 routed out therefrom at its under corner so that the fingers may readily be received therein for raising the typewriter from its vertical position, shown in Fig. 4, to a horizontal position, shown in Fig. l. The typewriter 20 is secured to the upper side of the table so that when the table is raised to a horizontal position it is elevated into a convenient. position for use. It will be noted that the pivots of the hinges I8 are directly at the inner and lower corners of the bar I! and over a vertical plane between the opposed sides of the side 'I of the typewriter carrying drawer. The weight of the typewriter and table is therefore substantially carried by the lower inner corners of the bar I! resting upon the upper edge of the side 1 and strain on the hinges is materially reduced if not wholly eliminated.

When the table 20 is lifted to its upper horizontal position it engages at its inner free corner with a pivoted abutment stop mounted upon and resting against the upper edge of the incomplete or short side 9. The stop abutment is made from a single piece of fiat metal bent into angle form having a vertical leg 2I which lies at the inner side of the side 9 of the drawer and is pivoted thereto at 22 as shown in Fig. 5. The upper or horizontal leg 23 of the abutment normally lies against the upper edge of the side 9. Near the pivoted end of the abutment stop a section of the horizontal leg is out from the vertical leg 2I and turned upwardly making an .operating ear 24. The outer end of the vertical leg 22 is cut at an incline which extends upwardly and outwardly, as best shown in Fig. 5 whereby on lifting the table I6 it engages against this under inclined edge turning the abutment stop to a position such that the table may pass by it whereupon the stop returns by gravity to rest upon the upper edge of the short side 9,

and then the table I6 may be lowered to rest upon the projecting end of the stop as shown in Fig. 5, locating and holding the typewriter upon the table in its working position. When the typewriter is to be lowered the free edge of the table I6 is grasped and lifted, and the operator engages the ear 24 to turn the top to an upper position suflicient to allow the table I6 to pass thereby, whereupon it may be lowered into the drawer as in Fig. 4.

The drawer is stopped in its outer position through a transverse bar 25 secured at its lower side and at its inner end which rides partly over and against a permanent stop bar 26 extending transversely across the pedestal 5 at the front open side thereof. Preferably the bar 25 at its front edge portion is tapered downwardly and to the rear at its under side so that when it rides partly over the bar 26 as shown in Fig. 2 there is a slight lift given to the drawer causing the guide bars I3 attached thereto to pinch against the upper guide bars I2 on the pedestal, providing a very firm and secure stabilizing of the typewriter carrying drawer when it is drawn outwardly. The slight upward inclination of the drawer slide bars-neutralizes the tendency for the drawer to sag under the weight of the typewriter when it is drawn forward and the table I6 is held in proper horizontal position when it is lifted and the typewriter moved to a. position ready for operation. The face 6 of the typewriter carrying drawer is located in a vertical plane when the drawer is closed, and under the natural sag of the drawer to a horizontal position when it is withdrawn such face 6 may be slightly inclined to the vertical when the drawer is at its outer position.

It will be evident that the construction of typewriter desk described achieves the several objects and purposes enumerated, providing a desk of less length and one occupying less floor space than previously thought necessary in the case of typewriter pedestal desks and also conserving space in the remaining pedestal. The construction is of a very sturdy and durable character, may be easily and economically manufactured; and the typewriter, when lifted for use, is positioned in a preferred location and immediately ready for operation.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within the scope of said claims.

I claim:

1. In a typewriter desk, a desk pedestal, a drawer slidably mounted therein having an outer side, a back and front, the inner side of the drawer being open from the front rearwardly for a distance, a table hingedly mounted on and adjacent the upper edge of said outer side and adapted to have a typewriter carried thereon, and means for releasably supporting the table in a horizontal position.

2. In a typewriter desk, a desk pedestal, a drawer slidably mounted therein and adapted to be withdrawn to an outer position, said drawer having a front, an outer side, a back and an inner side extending forwardly from the back a short distance, thereby leaving an open space at the inner side of the drawer between the front and the front edge of the incomplete inner side, shelves between the sides of said drawer and extending to the back thereof, a table hingedly mounted at the upper edge of the outer side of the drawer and in front of the front edge of the inner incomplete side thereof, and means for releasably holding the table in a horizontal position, said table when released from said means turning downwardly into the drawer.

3. In a typewriter desk, a desk pedestal, a drawer slidably mounted therein having a front, an outer side, a back and an inner incomplete side extending from the back forwardly a short distance, there being an open space between the front edge of said inner incomplete side and the front of the drawer, a table hingedly mounted adjacent one edge to the upper edge of said outer side, and an abutment stop mounted on the inner incomplete side of the drawer and 7 adapted to engage underneath the table when the same is raised to horizontal position and hold the same in said position, said stop being releasable to permit lowering the table.

4. In a typewriter desk, a desk pedestal, a drawer slidably mounted therein for withdrawal to a position in front of the desk, said drawer having a front, back, bottom and outer side, thre being a relatively wide opening at the inner side of the drawer back of its front, a table, a bar secured at the underside of thetable adjacent its outer edge, hinges connecting said bar to the\ outer side of the drawer adjacent the upper edge thereof, the pivotal axis of said hinges lying over the upper edge of the outer side of the drawer and substantially at the inner edge of said bar, and means for releasably supporting the table in a horizontal position towhich it may be elevated.

5. In a typewriter desk, a desk pedestal having an open front, a drawer slidably mounted therein and movable outwardly through said open front to an outer position, said drawer having a front, an outer side, a back and a short incomplete inner side extending from the back forwardly a short distance, whereby there is provided a relatively wide opening between the front edge of said incomplete inner side and the front of the drawer,

' position, whereby the same is automatically turned about its pivot on raising the table to and beyond a horizontal position and then drops back underneath the table to provide a stop for holding the table in horizontal position.

6. In a typewriter desk, a desk pedestal having an open front, a drawer slidably mounted therein ,and movable outwardly through said open front to an outer position, means for stopping said drawer at an outer position and for holding the same when in said outer position against movement except in a rearward direction, said drawer having a front, an outer side, a back and a short incomplete inner side extending from the back forwardly a short distance, whereby there is provided a relatively wide opening between the front edge of said incomplete inner side and the front of the drawena table hingedly mounted adjacent its outer edge to the upper edge of the outer complete side of the drawer, and an abutment stop pi otally connected to the incomplete inner side of the drawer a short distance back of its front edge and resting upon the upper edge of said inner side and extending a short distance beyond said edge to a point lying in the path of movement of said table, means for limiting the upward swinging movement of the abutment stop so that its center of gravity does not cross above its pivot point whereby the same is automatically turned about its pivot on raising the table to and beyond a horizontal position and then drops back underneath the table to provide a stop for holding the table inhorizontal position.

'7. In a typewriter desk, a desk pedestal, a drawer slidably mounted therein for withdrawal, said drawer having a front, an outer side, a back, a bottom and an incomplete inner side extending forwardly from the back a short distance, thereby providing a relatively wide opening between the front edge of said inner side and the front of the drawer, a table pivotally connected to said outer side and adapted to be turned downwardly parallel to said outer side within the drawer, and an abutment stop means carried by said inner side adapted to releasably engage underneath the table when it is turned upwardly to a horizontal 1position to hold the table in said horizontal posiion.

8. In a typewriter desk, a desk pedestal, a drawer slidably mounted therein for withdrawal to a forward position, said .drawer having a front, back, bottom,a vertical outer side and an incomplete vertical inner side extending from the back forwardly a short distance, leaving a relatively wide opening between the front edge of said inner side and the front of the drawer, and a plurality of shelves located one over the other between the sides of the drawer, said shelves extending rearwardly to the 'back thereof.

9. A desk drawer having a substantially vertical front, a vertical back, a vertical outer side extending between the front and back, an incomplete inner side extending forwardly from the back a distance and with an open space between the front and the front edge of said inner side, a bottom to said drawer, and shelves extending betweenthe outer and inner sides of the drawers and to the back, said shelves being located one over the other in spaced apart relation.

10. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 9, combined with a table hingedly connected to the outer side of the drawer and adapted, to turn downwardly into the drawer to a substantially vertical position, and being movable upwardly to av substantially horizontal position, and releasable meansv for holding the table in horizontal position.

11. In a typewriter desk, ,a desk pedestal, a drawer slidably mounted in said pedestal and having a front and a back and two vertical sides, one of said-vertical sides having a knee opening which is concealed within the pedestal when the drawer is retracted, means for mounting a typewriter in said drawer on a hinge having a horizontal axis, and means for supporting said type writer on said drawer in raised position accessible for normal operation relative to said knee opening.

12. In a typewriter desk, a pedestal, a drawer slidably mounted for movement in said pedestal to extended or retracted'positions, one vertical side of said drawer having a knee opening concealed within said pedestal when the drawer is retracted, typewriter supporting means mounted in said drawer for movement to positions to locate a typewriter thereon within the drawer or extended also above the drawer and means for supporting said typewriter supporting means in normal operating position relative to said knee opening.

13. A combination of elements as set forth in claim 12 but also having shelves within the drawer, said shelves being accessible through the said knee opening.

14. In a typewriter desk, a desk pedestal, a drawer slidably mounted therein for withdrawal to a forward position, said drawer having a front,

derside of the opening in the desk pedestal into which the drawer slides, said table being movable upwardly from its depending positions normally occupied when the drawer is closed.

in the drawer, said means permitting horizontal positioning of the typewriter above the drawer and additional-means for maintaining said typewriter out of the drawer over and across the drawer in a, position for use.

JOHN H. BUSHNELL. 

